Joy comes in the mourning

Topics: joy, happiness, comfort

I. Spiritual mourning over personal sin

* Blessed are those who allow godly sorrow to lead to repentance

1. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
2. For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret i - for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while?I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Corinthians 7:8-10; see also Romans 7:24-8:1).

Spiritual mourning over church compromise

* Blessed are those who weep over the apostasy of "Christians"

1. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (Galatians 1:6-8; see also Isaiah 53:3).
2. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him . . . Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:1?3; see also Matthew 13:41-43).

Spiritual mourning over worldly deception

* Blessed are those who weep over the rejection of our Lord Jesus

1. When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes . . . because you did not recognize the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:41-44; see also Romans 8:23).
2. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you (James 4:8-10).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins August 15^th, 2021